Anonymous wrote:We had our deck replaced this year and we exchanged vacation. Supposed to go to Maui and now we are going to my parents who live in Maine.

But that's still a vacation - Maine in the summer is pretty great

Coming at this as someone who values travel and time off over complete and utter financial prudence: I'd say take the vacation. $k or $2k in the scheme of things is not that much. Life is for enjoying. If you were trying to figure out how you were going to pay your mortgage next month I'd advise otherwise.

I would take the trip. You were able to afford the roof, you are not without savings, you haven't even touched your home equity for home repairs, and you're talking about a very modest vacation.

What are you working all the time for if not to have some fun with your family? Totally responsible to scale back, but short-sighted, IMO, to cancel altogether.

My parents took vacations during the Great Depression! Now, they stayed with other family members in different parts of the country, but they didn't stop living.

We had a job loss last year, and just got back from a Florida vacation. We didn't go anywhere last year, and after two years without a break, we were falling apart. Our physical health suffered. Our sex life suffered. Our mental health suffered. We were fighting and angry.

Getting out of town made a huge difference.

Anonymous wrote:I would take it. You sound like you are generally really financially responsible and have a good handle on your budget. Your kids won’t be at home for that many years. Take the trip and make the memories.

+1000

Go.